Tag: LCA

In continuation with the previous WAC182005**** analysis we are publishing the data for WAC181955**** , most of the cases are filed on June 7 2018.

Moving from end of May to June clearly shows changes in the RFE scenario. It seems to be improving gradually for the better. Whether the federal lawsuit against USCIS is having effect on these changes is still not clear.

Please leave a comment if you want data analysed for a different date (include the first 9 digits of your petition number).

In continuation with the previous WAC182005**** analysis we are publishing the data for WAC181915**** , most of these cases were filed on May 29, 2018 and hence crossed the 15 calendar day deadline for Premium processing and should give a good idea of Approval and RFE rates in the initial days.

Please leave a comment if you want data analysed for a different date (include the first 9 digits of your petition number).

Cognizant Technologies is number three in terms of employees in India. Even though it is based out of USA, for all purposes is considered an Indian IT firm. For years Cognizant has filed several H1B petitions for System Analysts ( 15-1121.00 – Computer Systems Analysts ), but in recent months have seen an extremely high spike in denials.

Cognizant has relied Fragomen for majority of its filings in the recent years. There was always a gripe among employees on the Fragomen methodology of filing H1B petitions with minimal documentation and adding additional documentation during RFE. This process was resulting in increased RFE’s and lead to USCIS issuing a memo on documentation to be filed with initial filing.

While this was causing several RFE’s and denials, USCIS has also started targeting Computer System Analyst role for Specialty Occupation eligibility. USCIS through 2017 memo has deemed Computer Programmers are not a Specialty Occupation in itself and further evidence is needed to justify the role. With Fragomen’s policy of not providing support documents, it increased frustration within USCIS and employees, causing more RFE’s and denials.

How is H1B Salary determined

Even with support documents employees filing with wage level 1 have very slim chance of approval. This SOC title of Computer System Analyst also is used for several roles within Cognizant. Senior Analysts, System Analysts and even for managers. Below are some of the Job titles associated with this SOC title.

If you have been offered the SOC title in LCA, discuss with your Manager and Immigration team, about choosing alternate roles. If they persist with this role, you need to be prepared for RFE or denial.

While the chances of Non – Computer Science background degree holders have higher chance of denial, denials are happening with Computer Science Background employees as well.